Friday, January 06, 2012

USA Today Features Intel's Early Access to Physical Therapy Model

Workers with routine back pain at Intel's plant in Oregon are "much happier" these days due to collaboration among Intel, 2 local health care systems, and a health insurer that has reduced the waiting time to see a physical therapist from 19 days to 48 hours, reports USA Today.

In addition to the Intel model, the article highlights the collaborative effort at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle and other partnerships that have formed to tackle the problems of unsatisfactory quality and rising health costs.

According to the article, Intel workers are completing their treatment in 21 days, compared with 52 days in the past. The cost per patient has dropped 10% to 30% due to fewer unnecessary physician visits and diagnostic imaging tests. In addition, the workers are "more satisfied and return to work faster."